Can The Doctor Report to DVLA

[naveed]

Can The Doctor Report to DVLA directly if eyesight drops a certain level .

[Andrew MacLean]

There is a legal obligation on you to notify the DVLA if your sight makes it illegal for you to drive. Also if you do drive when your sight is too poor, you commit an offense and your insurance will be nul and void in the event of any accident.

Andrew

[tneedham]

what is the legal requirement? as regards the snellen chart?
I think its a bit of a different set of rules for us KC'ers. To be able to read a number plate at 20' completely depends on the light conditions at the time.
I certainly have a lot more trouble at night.

[rosemary johnson]

The requirement to be able to read a number plate at however many metres it is these days is in good daylight. Or some such phrase. Or was.
Rosemary

[Andrew MacLean]

If in doubt, either do not drive or ask your optometrist if you are safe to drive. The answer may be "no". but hearing that would be a great deal easier than hearing the words "you are under arrest for driving when not fit to do so."

There are no special rules or special concessions to people with keratoconus.

Andrew

[naveed]

Thanks Andrew .

I am still ok on limits to drive , but i was trying to know the law for doctor or NHS.

Thanks anyways

[Andrew MacLean]

Eyesight requirements

Letting DVLA know about eyesight conditions
When applying for your driving licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) you should let them know if you have:
any visual condition which affects both eyes (not including short or long sight or colour blindness)
any visual condition which affects your sight, (not including short or long sight or colour blindness), for example, if you have sight in one eye only

If you have had sight correction surgery you should declare this when you apply for your provisional licence.

For further information about eyesight conditions please contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).


Eyesight requirements for the practical driving test
Before the practical driving test, your driving examiner will ask you to read the number plate on a stationary vehicle.

The distance requirement for the old-style number plate is 20.5 metres. The distance requirement for the eyesight test with the new-style number plate is 20 metres. New-style number plates were introduced on 1 September, 2001 and are easily identifiable because they start with two letters ie AB51 ABC.

If you can't speak English or have difficulty reading, you may copy down what you see. If your answer is incorrect, your examiner will measure the exact distance and repeat the test.

If you can read the number plate correctly you will be allowed to proceed with your driving test.

http://www.dsa.gov.uk/content.asp?id=194

I retrieved this from the DVLA website. If you have been diagnosed with Keratoconus you ought to notify the DVLA.

Andrew

[Dolphin]

I have just been reading this posting and I am now a bit worried as I have not informed DVLA or car insurance provider that I have KC. I was told by my specialist that I could see above the line of requirement so I did not need to. I also asked the last time I went to the opticians if I needed to inform them and he looked it up in his book and also said there was no need. I am also aware that with KC the light can effect how we see and does not always represent what we see at the opticians.

Even though I have been told this and I know my vision is ok to drive should i still be informing them? If i do need to, then what affect will this have on my car insurance premiums and will i have to go for a sepperate medical to prove my vision is ok?

Dolphin

[Andrew MacLean]

I notified the DVLA a long time before i lost my sight. They noted what I said and took no action. I think it would probably have been a good idea to let them know each six months what my readings were as I went for regular eyesight checks.

When I became unable to wear lenses and thus lost my sight I notified them immediately. When I got my sight back after grafts I notified them again and they checked with my ophthalmologist and told me that I was good to drive. That way my motor insurance was always in order.

There is nothing to fear in notifying the DVLA that you have an eye condition that affects both eyes. There is nothing to fear if you have to notify them that you are no longer driving. the one situation where there is perhaps something to fear is if you drive when you should not and there is an accident.

Andrew

[Dolphin]

Thanks for the advice, I will now inform the DVLA. The only reason i didn't was because i was adviced that i did not need to. And yes you are right we should not drive if we know we are not legal to do so.

Dolphin